I informed Robert Spencer recently that I had read his latest book, Religion of Peace?: Why Christianity Is and Islam Isn’t, and was preparing a review of it. He expressed some surprise over the fact that I liked it, pointing out a few earlier essays of mine indicating that I am somewhat critical of Christianity. I would describe my relationship with that religion as mildly critical, but for the most part positive. I am a non-religious person, but I appreciate the many good aspects of Christianity and think some of the criticism against it is unfair.

This book elegantly compares the attitudes of Muslims and Christians on a wide range of topics, from violence via anti-Semitism to the separation of religion and state. I had been writing about the history of science recently and took particular interest in the chapter on this subject. Spencer explores the important theological differences between Islam on one hand and Judaism and Christianity on the other hand regarding reason and natural law:

Stavros Dimas (no really) is the European Commissioner for Global Warming and it appears he has been a little economical with the actualite. Chris Horner spots the deliberate mistake here,
According to EU Observer he claims,

“‘Our emissions are currently 2 percent below [1990] levels (…) while our economy has grown by more than 35 percent over the same period.”

The point being is that Kyoto was agreed by the then EU 15, the 35% growth rate is essentially just adding the GDP of the accession countries, with no real growth required, and of course the collapse of the Eastern European manufacturing industry immediately after the fall in the Berlin wall has meant that the 27 overall have had a reduction. Not the EU 15 which is way over target.

This conflation of "we" (15) and "we" (27) is a pernicious mistruth.

The question of the break-up of Belgium is no longer taboo in the Western European press. On the contrary, it is discussed openly as a possible, even likely future event. Most recently in The Guardian on 13th November 2007, Jon Henley wrote that the break-up seemed inevitable (even though he personally opposes it) while of course The Economist had written a similar thing in September.

A quote from Franz Haas in the Swiss newspaper Neue Zürcher Zeitung, 19 November, 2007 [here is an English translation]

For too long warnings about the evils and dangers of radical Islam in Italy were the domain of the political Right and the xenophobic Lega Nord (Northern League) party. The alarm signals they issued were generally crude and simplistic and sometimes even dangerously tasteless. [...] The appeals of journalist Oriana Fallaci, the figurehead of the anti-Islam movement in Italy who in her books "The Rage and Pride" (2001) and "The Force of Reason" (2004) made no bones about engaging in overt racism, were in a similar vein. In taking this approach she did this sensitive subject a disservice, for the result was that liberal and left-wing intellectuals distanced themselves still further from her, preferring to avoid the controversial issue altogether. [...]

A quote from the Turkish English-language newspaper Zaman, 27 November 2007

The Foundation for the Struggle Against Baseless Allegations of Genocide (ASİMED) has begun an e-mail campaign to try and dissuade actor Mel Gibson from playing a role in a film that underscores claims of an alleged genocide of Anatolian Armenians by Ottoman Turks during World War I.

A quote from the French writer Bernard Antony at his blog, 27 November 2007 [here is an English translation]

The racist scum of this civil war shows no emotion over the murder of Anne-Lorraine [Schmitt].

Anne-Lorraine, a young Frenchwoman, a young Christian woman, was murdered while heroically resisting the monster who was attempting to rape her. This murder did not trigger a single riot. And yet, at the very least, the early release of criminals ought to result in demonstrations in front of the Ministry of Justice.

A quote from the Covenant Zone blog, 27 November 2007

Citizen journalists are on the scene this time, far more than was the case during the previous rioting; now a whole parallel world of reporting is going on, in venues like youtube and dailymotion, and blogs like bafweb and Francois deSouche. The France of 2005/06 was not as wired as the France of today; let's see what difference this might make, as the French news consumers plug in to alternative sources of information to fill out their understanding of why they've lost their car and why they have the sting of smoke in their eyes. [...] I think we can expect a very different response to the riots this time. Not a universal, nation-wide condemnation yet, but far less sympathy for the "downtrodden youth" than was the case during Chirac's France.
The French seem to be waking up.

A quote from the French journalist Frédéric Pons at the Valeurs Actuelles blog, 27 November 2007

Shocked by the savage murder of our dear Anne-Lorraine [Schmitt, a journalism student who worked as an intern at the Valeurs Actuelles magazine], aged 23, a friend rang me: “We should demonstrate, burn down Turkish mosques…” I understand him. The killer of RER D is a recidivist sexual criminal of Turkish origin. He was free, despite an earlier condemnation! Should we burn, demonstrate? Leave that to the Turks, the Egyptians, the Indonesians, the Sudanese, the Algerians who martyr their Christian compatriots and burn their churches. Leave that to the scum of the barbarian neighbourhoods who at this very moment are taking advantage of the shocking impunity granted them by years of slackness and demagogy. Yes, the atrocious killing of Anne-Lorraine fills us with revulsion. […] In the name of the brave Anne-Lorraine who resisted her aggressor and succeeded in hurting him (which made his arrest possible) before dying from the knife wounds. When will this rapist with his knife leave prison? After 8, 10, 15 years? Our society must pluck up the courage to remove him, and all the killers and child abusers, from society once and for all. That is our society’s responsibility. If we do not do this, the fathers, the brothers, the uncles will. In the name of justified violence. That is something I will understand.

Update 29 November: This article was removed from the Valeurs Actuelles blog. Read about it here.
It is taboo in Europe to say that if the state fails to protect the citizens, the citizens should protect themselves. Here is President Sarkozy’s opinion on this.

A quote from the French journalist Gérard Gachet at his blog, 27 November 2007 [here is an English translation]

In an attempt to calm things down the head of state may meet on Wednesday with the parents of the two dead youths of Villiers-le-Bel. Would it be asking too much of him to make a strong statement, also, for the family and the loved ones of Anne-Lorraine? […] Indeed, it would only be right if the innocent victims in this country were treated with more respect than delinquents who are responsible for their own misfortune.

A quote from The Local, Sweden’s news in English, 27 November 2007

People who have been smuggled into Sweden should be deported, a leading Social Democrat politician has said. Allowing those who have paid thousands to people smugglers to stay is not fair on people who can’t afford to pay to leave their homelands. Göran Johansson, leader of Gothenburg Council, said he based his views on the fact that many of the 20,000 Iraqis expected to come to Sweden this year came here illegally, often with the help of people smugglers. “If it is obvious that someone has been smuggled in they should be sent back again,” Johansson told newspaper GT. People pay around 100,000 kronor ($16,000) each to be brought to Sweden.